Thank You Palmer McInnis
For the second year in a row, a Houston-area teen has given generously to The Rose, a non-profit breast cancer organization. Palmer McInnis, a 17-year-old junior at Deer Park High School, recently sold his 8th place goat at the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo for a record $115,000 – all of which was earmarked for The Rose. “I wanted to do this in memory of my step-mother,” said Palmer. “She loved me just like my own mom. This is a great memorial for her and my dad.” Palmer’s step-mother, Carla, lost her battle with breast cancer in late 2005.	Palmer McInnis, right, with his twin brother Nolan and Pancho the goat.
U Pick, U Pull ultimately bought the goat, painted bright pink to signify breast cancer awareness, for $50,000, but donations kept accumulating from businesses and community members, including Casa Ole Deer Park, Casa Ole, Inc., Crane Rental, Swindoll Paint and Body, Grayco Communication, Loomis International, CEP and Garner Environmental, John O. Harris Interests, Horseshoe Construction and Mike McInnis. “I have never seen the community come together like this,” said Lisa Meche, Palmer’s mother. “The whole thing just gave me goose bumps. This was not the first time the teen exhibited his selfless generosity. Last year, Palmer’s prized heifer drew in about $10,000, which he donated to The Rose. “The women at The Rose are worth more than me winning a heifer show,” Palmer said. Palmer will be recognized for his generosity with a letter of commendation from Pasadena Mayor John Manlove and a proclamation from the Deer Park City Council. He will also be recognized, along with the community donors, at a special reception at The Rose. Palmer's story has been featured in various media outlets, including the Deer Park Broadcaster, The Pasadena Citizen and KTRK ABC Channel 13.
Surrounded by friends and well-wishers, Deer Park’s Palmer McInnis, center in pink shirt, and his eighth-place goat celebrate the winning bid of $50,000 and the donations which brought the grand total for the pink goat to $115,000. The money was then donated to The Rose, a non-profit breast cancer organization serving women in the greater Houston area. (Photo by Jeri Martinez/Deer Park Broadcaster)
Inspirational student wins big . . . again
By Jeri Martinez Deer Park Broadcaster Reporter Little did Deer Park FFA member Palmer McInnis know that his eighth-place goat, Poncho, would bring in as much money as it did last Thursday afternoon at the 57th Annual Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo Auction. Last year he raised the Grand Champion heifer that sold for $11,000, money which he donated to the Rose, a non-profit breast cancer organization. He decided that proceeds from the sell go to The Rose after his stepmother had been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier that year. McInnis gained respect from everyone in his family to representatives from within The Rose for his donation. With the passing of his stepmother nearly a year ago, he decided to once again donate the money to The Rose that he received in this year’s auction. An announcement before the auction notified everyone what McInnis was going to do with the money and to think about that when bidding. “I am donating this money to The Rose to pay my respects to my stepmom,” he said. When he came out from behind the stage with Poncho in his pink-colored coat, the audience in the Pasadena Convention Center applauded. “I decided to use the pink hairspray that they sell for Halloween and use it on my goat then got the idea of the pink ribbon since I had put one on my heifer last year,” said McInnis. The bidding started and everyone was ready. Finally, a bid of $50,000 came from the U-Pick U-Pull Auto Parts team and the crowd went wild. McInnis’ face showed he was overwhelmed by the high bid but couldn’t be happier with the final results. Because of where the donation was going numerous businesses, sponsors and residents stepped up and added to the bid. The Deer Park Rotary Club added about $15,000, with $5,000 of that coming from member John Holt. “Palmer’s father, Mike, had came to me a couple of days before and I sent out an e-mail to all the members about what we wanted to do,” said Rotary President Ryan Taylor. “Amazingly in the next couple of days members were donating for this cause.” He had no idea that it was going to begin a frenzy at the auction but thought it was pretty awesome. McInnis’ father gave the group the name “Hot Pink Goat Ropers”because of the shirts they were wearing and for what they had don for his son. Once all amounts were added, the total came to $115,000 and hugs along with high-fives were doled out. “This is unbelievable because I was not expecting it to go that high,” said McInnis. Adding to the amount he donated last year, he knows this amount will definitely help more. Many students followed in his footsteps by donating either part or all of their proceeds along with his. “I am happy to see people go big with this and I hope that it will influence more people to do the same,” he said.
Adding up the winning bid 2006 Livestock Auction Lot – No. 69 – Palmer McInnis – Deer Park High School 8th Place Goat – $115,000 – Donated to The Rose Buyers U-Pick U-Pull $50,000 Casa Ole Deer Park $2,500 Casa Ole Inc $2,500 Crane Rental $15,000 Swindoll Paint and Body $5,000 Grayco Communications $10,000 Loomis International, Inc. $5,000 CEP and Garner Environmental $5,000 John O. Harris Interests $5,000 Horseshoe Construction $5,000 Mike McInnis $10,500 TOTAL $115,500

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It was both an historic and emotional time as Palmer McInnis watched local businesses contribute thousands of dollars at the auction for his goat. The money will be given to The Rose in memory of his stepmother who died with breast cancer last year. (Photo by Yvette Orozco/Pasadena Citizen)

A spirit of giving sparks livestock auction

By Yvette Orozco Pasadena Citizen Reporter McInnis won the Grand Champion for his heifer, and took in $11, 000 at the subsequent auction. "His stepmother passed away about two weeks later, on November 4th," said his father. In her honor, McInnis donated all his earnings from the sale of his prize heifer to the Rose, a non-profit breast cancer center which provides screening, diagnosis, support and treatment to all women, regardless of their ability to pay. "It was a real nice tribute," said his father. "It was just something to do to try to heal." On Thursday afternoon, the annual livestock auction was held on schedule at the Pasadena Convention Center. McInnis didn't win the prized Grand Champion belt buckle this year but it didn't matter to the Rose. For his eighth place white goat, boasting a temporary bright pink coat and adorned with a large pink ribbon (the emblematic symbol for breast cancer awareness), U-Pick U-Pull Auto Parts topped the final bid at $50, 000. That amount was only the beginning as buyers, sponsors, and private citizens, aware of McInnis' ultimate goal, kept raising the bid, bringing the total to $115, 000, with all proceeds going to the Rose. "I've never seen anything like this take place," said Peggy Ferrugia, director in charge of the auction committee. "It was so fascinating and astronomical that these people would come forward for this young man and help him honor his mother." Brahana Howard, center manager for both Rose locations on Featherwood and Bissonnet, represented the center at the auction. "The president of the Rodeo association made a little speech about him before (McInnis) and that got the interest peaked," she said. "Companies just started bidding, it was incredible."

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Teen donates livestock winnings to charity in stepmother's memory
History was made Thursday at the Pasadena Livestock Show and Rodeo. Donors paid $115,000 for a pink goat, for a significant cause. It's all driven by a special boy with a generous heart. Poncho the goat may be indifferent to coat of pink spray painting, but the neon colored coat is no prank. Palmer McInnis is doing it to honor his mother -- unusual, yet poignant.
"She believed in raising the animal for the meat, and she said it's a project, and just don't cheat in it," Palmer said. Palmer's mother Carla died last year from breast cancer. Awareness for the disease explains the pink goat. It is also the motivation behind Palmer's decision to donate this year's auction proceeds to a cancer treatment center called the Rose, where his mother was treated. He said, "I enjoy raising livestock. I'm not really worried about the money. But the women over there, they're worth more& More people's lives are worth more than just, you know, me winning the heifer show. They need it more than basically I do." This is not a one-time donation. Palmer did the same thing last year, donating $11,000 from the sale of his prize steer. It's an unselfish action from a boy who just wants to please his mother. "She's probably up there smiling at me," he said. "She probably didn't want me to, but then she realized that I'm no so selfish and that's a good thing to do." Palmer's father Mike McInnis said, "Doing something like this, when you give, you'll get it back ten-fold. We'll finance his education. We'll get student loans and he'll apply for scholarships and work. He'll have a much easier time going to college than these women at the Rose that can't pay for their screening and their treatments." Poncho got a top bid of $50,000. But a number of businessmen kicked in another $65,000, bringing the total to $115,000 going to the Rose. As for Palmer, he says he hopes to go to A&M in a couple of years. Story aired Oct. 12, 2006 on KTRK, ABC Channel 13 - Cynthia Cisneros Reporter
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The Rose The Rose Medical Plaza Suite 260 12700 North Featherwood Houston, TX 77034 Phone: (281) 484-4708 Fax: (281) 484-5626 therose@the-rose.org		The Rose Joan Gordon Center Suite 185 3400 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005 Phone: (713) 668-2996 Fax: (713) 668-3173 therose@the-rose.org

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